Sunset near Birmingham

 

A colourful ending to the day near Birmingham, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on October 8, 2020.

Día de los Muertos

Día de Muertos or, Day of the Dead, is observed in many European and Latin American countries and celebrates death as the natural end to life...once again the deceased awaken to celebrate with the living.  What a refreshing thought!  

One of the traditions of the celebration that I especially enjoy is honouring the dead with gifts of marigolds, "sugar skulls" and the favourite food of the dearly departed.  

This post celebrates the tradition with a selection of photos of Ukrainian cemeteries from central Saskatchewan and Alberta.    

(Above) August 7, 2020:  Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery near Nipawin, Saskatchewan.  The tall slender main marker is bold and attractive against the threatening sky.

August 4, 2020:  Pryma Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery near Smuts, Saskatchewan.  The church associated with this cemetery is just a few miles away and is named Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.  There is a fine array of traditional Eastern European grave markers in this country cemetery.

January 5, 2020:  Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox near Wroxton, Saskatchewan.  A small church and cemetery on the edge of town...picture postcard perfect.

August 5, 2020:  Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Tarnopol, Saskatchewan.  A bright summer day in the countryside.  I love the oversize dome on the church.

August 3, 2020:  Saint Mary's Orthodox Cemetery is just a few miles from Wakaw, Saskatchewan.  This is a view of the cemetery from just inside the tree-shrouded main gate.

February 21, 2020:  Saint Michail Cemetery near Myrnam, Alberta has many unmarked graves from the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919.  This cemetery is also known as Staray Tsventar (or simply, "Old Cemetery").  Well worth the walk from the main road to see this cemetery set in rolling hills.  

February 22, 2020:  New Kiev Holy Ascension Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery at New Kiev, Alberta.  One of the loveliest cemeteries I had the chance to visit this past winter.

August 3, 2020:  Saint John the Evangelist Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery near Prud'homme, Saskatchewan.  After supper I decided to take a drive south of Cudworth...in a word, "moody."

August 7, 2020:  Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Maryville, Saskatchewan.  A spectacular abandoned church that now occasionally appears in a dream from time to time.

August 7, 2020:  Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Cemetery at Brooksby, Saskatchewan.  It was a hot summer day on the prairie but the cemetery was picturesque and inviting.

January 4, 2020:  Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery at Dneiper, Saskatchewan.  An enfolding purple and pink sky on a late afternoon in winter makes a cold weather journey all worthwhile.

January 6, 2020:  The Ukrainian Catholic Parish and Cemetery of Saint Demetrius at Kyziv-Tiaziv near Rama, Saskatchewan. A beautiful sunset always makes for the perfect end to a cold winter day.

Happy life and afterlife!

Happy Hallowe'en

I'm sure this wasn't intentional...but it is comical.

This Herman Munster look-a-like wishes you a, "Happy Hallowe'en!"

The side door of a church photographed somewhere in central Alberta on January 7, 2019.

Holy Ghost in Goodeve

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church is adjacent to the main highway through Goodeve, Saskatchewan.

The arch at the front of the church is lined with light bulbs.  Must look great at night.

Photographed on October 9, 2020.

Round Plain Church

 

A small stone church near Wishart, Saskatchewan.

The site of the community cemetery (1884) was also chosen for the site of the new church in 1888.

Members of the Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist congregations all had a hand in the construction.

Round Plain Church is the oldest surviving church in the R.M of Emerald.

This design was typical of stone churches in the, then, Northwest Territories.

Information courtesy of Canada's Historic Places.

Photographed on October 12, 2020.

Balancing Act

A grave marker at Point View Cemetery near Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan.  

The long metal spike stuck in the ground has a small cup attached at the top.  At this central pivot, one large bird is balanced by two small birds.  When the wind blows the birds bob up and down...a little fun at the cemetery.

Photographed on June 12, 2020.

Elevator in Hubbard

 

The grain elevator in Hubbard, Saskatchewan still looks to be in good repair.

Photographed on October 9, 2020.

Saints Peter and Paul in Yellow Creek

This is Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yellow Creek, Saskatchewan.

The building is mostly hidden from view by a dense caragana hedge.

A rear view of the church.

The domes are topped by hand-crafted wrought iron Orthodox crosses.

There is also a bell tower in the church yard. 

The church cemetery is just on the edge of town.

Photographed on August 5, 2020.

Saint Saviour's near Birch Hills

 

Saint Saviour's Anglican Church and Cemetery near Birch Hills, Saskatchewan was built in 1905...

...with the spire and bell being added in 1912.

The cemetery occupies almost half of the church yard.

The church closed in 1950 and was designated a Heritage Site in 1985.  Restoration of the church and cemetery began in 1986 with donations received from descendants and friends.

Once around the yard and back to the front.

Photographed on August 5, 2020.

Goat

 

A goat with an impressive pair of horns.

Shown here with his (or her) horse buddy in a pasture near Melville, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on October 12, 2020.